Pentagon Leak Probe Sparks Adviser Ousters, Denials \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Three senior advisers to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth were removed from the Pentagon amid a growing investigation into alleged national security leaks. The advisers released a joint statement denying wrongdoing and criticizing the nature of their dismissal. The controversy reflects broader turmoil within the Pentagon during Trump’s latest administration.
Quick Looks
- Three senior advisers to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ousted amid leak probe
- Dan Caldwell, Colin Carroll, and Darin Selnick publicly criticized their removals
- The men say they were never informed of investigation details or formal charges
- A fourth official, John Ullyot, was asked to resign separately this week
- The Pentagon is investigating reports of classified briefings involving Elon Musk
- Hegseth’s office warned of polygraph tests for Defense Department staff
- Probe follows firings of top military leaders including Gen. CQ Brown and Adm. Lisa Franchetti
- Public backlash erupted after diversity-related content like Tuskegee Airmen tributes was removed
- Pentagon turmoil continues less than 100 days into Trump’s second term
- Accused aides suggest internal politics may be behind the shake-up
Deep Look
Three senior advisers to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have publicly condemned what they describe as unjustified and unexplained ousters after being removed from their Pentagon posts amid a widening probe into national security information leaks.
The officials — Dan Caldwell, Colin Carroll, and Darin Selnick — were all part of Hegseth’s close advisory circle and were among at least four high-level officials dismissed this week.
“We are incredibly disappointed by the manner in which our service at the Department of Defense ended,” the trio said in a joint statement published by Caldwell on X. “Unnamed Pentagon officials have slandered our character with baseless attacks on our way out the door.”
The statement also emphasized that they had not been informed of any specific allegations, nor whether a formal investigation remains active or ever existed.
Investigations, Resignations, and High-Profile Firings
The removals come just months into President Donald Trump’s second term, as the Department of Defense grapples with internal purges, restructuring efforts, and a new wave of loyalty-based personnel decisions.
Former Pentagon spokesman John Ullyot also announced his resignation this week — though the Pentagon clarified he had been asked to resign, implying it was not voluntary.
This week’s shake-up is part of a broader climate of upheaval. In recent weeks, several top military officials have been dismissed, including:
- Gen. CQ Brown, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs
- Adm. Lisa Franchetti, Chief of Naval Operations
- Gen. Tim Haugh, head of NSA and U.S. Cyber Command
- Vice Adm. Shoshana Chatfield, U.S. military representative to NATO
These departures mark a rapid turnover of senior leadership and have raised serious questions about stability, continuity, and strategic direction inside the Pentagon.
The Alleged Leaks: Elon Musk, China, and Classified Briefings
The controversy centers around what Defense Secretary Hegseth’s office described as unauthorized disclosures of national security information, specifically related to reports that tech billionaire Elon Musk was slated to receive a classified military briefing on potential conflict scenarios with China.
The reports, which leaked to the press last month, led to Hegseth’s chief of staff, Joe Kasper, announcing that the Pentagon’s intelligence and law enforcement divisions would investigate potential breaches.
Kasper warned that Defense Department personnel could face polygraph tests, signaling a serious escalation in how the administration plans to root out suspected internal dissent or disloyalty.
“This was never about leaks,” one dismissed aide told a source close to the investigation. “It’s about power and purging people who ask questions.”
Pentagon Image Tarnished Amid DEI Backlash
The internal turmoil comes on the heels of public outrage over the Pentagon’s decision to purge diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) content from its websites and educational materials. The move led to the temporary removal of tributes to iconic figures such as the Tuskegee Airmen and Jackie Robinson, prompting bipartisan condemnation.
Officials later scrambled to reinstate the content, but the incident underscored how DEI has become a flashpoint under the current administration.
“This administration has shown a troubling pattern of undermining the military’s values, history, and chain of command,” said one retired officer.
Aide Reactions: No Charges, No Evidence, No Clarity
In their statement, Caldwell, Carroll, and Selnick expressed frustration with how their departures were handled, suggesting that the process lacked transparency and due process.
“At this time, we still have not been told what exactly we were investigated for,” they wrote. “If there is still an active investigation, or if there was even a real investigation of ‘leaks’ to begin with.”
The ambiguity of the investigation has drawn criticism from defense analysts and legal experts who warn that vague accusations and sudden firings risk damaging morale and politicizing the Department of Defense.
The Bigger Picture: Loyalty Over Leadership?
Observers point out that this latest wave of firings and investigations fits a broader trend of loyalty-based governance increasingly on display at the Pentagon. President Trump’s second term has seen rapid restructuring across federal departments, with an emphasis on installing politically aligned personnel and removing dissenters.
Many fear this will degrade the apolitical nature of the U.S. military, which has historically functioned with autonomy and bipartisan respect.
As of now, no official charges or detailed findings have been released. The Department of Defense continues to withhold further comment pending the internal investigation’s conclusion.
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